"Lamb": Movie Review
Written By Alex Greenbaum
As it unravels its mysterious threads, "Lamb" becomes a touching metaphor for grief, loss, and our human inability to let go. This Icelandic story is beyond just a simple fairytale but rather a memorable and often haunting portrayal of parents' pain and a child's innocence. The film's subtle concepts are masterfully expressed through its unsettling camera-work and spine tingling musical score. Add a brilliant performance by Noomi Rapace and "Lamb" will stand the test of time for its ingenuity.
Located on vast Icelandic farm, an isolated husband and wife are faced with a shocking discovery that will forever change their lives. Both Rapace and Hilmir Snær Guðnason, who portrays her husband, (they take up eighty percent of the screen time) swept me away with mostly voiceless performances. Yet, when the script by Sjón and Valdimar Jóhannsson comes into play, there's a spark of wonder and curiosity. The writing flourishes because of the real life themes that become increasingly relatable, even when its thirst for the peculiar is pushed to the edge.
The cinematography of Iceland hover between being gorgeous and bleak. Its extensive rolling hills, along with a foggy and chilly atmosphere are emblematic of the loneliness that persists. "Lamb" takes its time and asks the viewer to fill in the blanks along the way, which works splendidly with its bizarre revelations.
My mind never wandered during the its runtime besides some minor nit-picks and creative differences towards the end. "Lamb" slams its message down with force, leaving me speechless in more than a few occasions. I have found no film this year take so much risk, and it was a risk worth taking.
Comments
Post a Comment